Electric elevator-controlling system



C. 8. BROWN.

ELECTRIC ELEVATOR CONTROLLING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED N0V-l61 1915.

1,327,421 I Pew tented Jan. 6, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEE'T I.

I 4 @W FIG! I ATTORNEYS.

C. 8. BROWN.

ELECTRIC ELEVATOR CONTROLLING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED NOV. I6. 1915.

1,327,421 Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- F/G- 5 I FIG. 4

0) all INVENTOR. WITNESSES: flit.) 5 y I I %:%5 M C -fi ATTORNEYS.

FIG- 2. X

CARL S. BROWN/OF POBTLLANDQOREGON.

ELECTRIC ELEVATOR-CONTROLLING SYSTEM.

To all whom it may concern. Be it known that I, CARL S. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, county of Multnornah, State of Oregon, ful Improvementsv in Electric Elevator-Controlling Systems, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to electrical push button devices for controlling and operating elevators, and, particularly that class of elevators known as dumb waiters in such a manner as to dispense with the constant attendance of a regular operator therefor, and affording a safe and convenient means for .operation by the individual using the elevator.

The objects of my invention are to provide in such a system, safety, andabsence of confusion in operation, elimination of eX- pensive and complicated timing devices, absence of difliculties due to cable stretching, and costly installation.

I accomplish the above objects by means of the construction herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which therefore become a part of this application for Letters Patent. such systems are now in use in which an elevator may be operated between any two stations, inwhich the whole system is dead as long as two push buttons are held simultaneously in operation, and in which the system is dead while the elevator is moving.

My invention is difierentiated from such past practice in the art as follows:

- Operation.

In other systems the elevator may be operated between any two stations by an operator located at a third station, which results in confusion and lost time because when an elevator is put into operation'it must first be brought to the despatching station to receive goods destined for another station, or to receive orders for goods from some other a station.

lhisadvantage of my system over others is accomplished by providing such an ar- Specification of Letters Patent.

have invented certain new and use I am aware that Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

Application filed November 16, 1915. Serial No. 61,783.

rangeinent of parts that at each station all push buttons are dead, except that one corresponding to its own station, until such time as the elevator has been called and has arrived at the station, when the circuit connecting all stations is completed and the elevator may be despatched to any station desired by operating the corresponding push button.

The arrival of the elevator at a calling station automatically breaks the circuit containing the corresponding push button so that the elevator cannot be despatched' from a station by operating the push button corresponding to that stationand located thereat.

By this arrangement the elevator is always operating toward a; stop set against it in the elevator shaft.

Sec'ond:If buttons located at different stations are operated simultaneously, the elevator will proceed to the station corresponding with the operated button located lowest in the shaft. v I

In some other systems, the whole system is dead as long as'two buttons are held in operation simultaneously, while in other systems the elevator stops at the first statlon it reaches under the joint control of two or more buttons operated simultaneously.

By this arrangement, in the coincidence of simultaneous {operation of two; or more buttons, the right of way is definitely and automatically established. I

Third :,Upon the operation of any button calling the elevator to the correspondlng station, a signal light, (or' other suitable signal device) indicates that the earls proseeding to that station if the right of way has been secured, otherwise thesignal de-, vice remains dead indicating that the elevator is engaged elsewhere.

The signal device is so arranged that, upon the right of way being obtained, the signal will continue to operate until the door has been opened and closed, and thus the system has been placed in operative condition after the call of the elevator at the station.

Installation.

' Fifth :An independent stop device is located at each station, operating therefor.

. upon the amount of stretch in the cables.

Also such collective grouping of the several stop mechanisms, results 1n expensive installation because in adjusting one stop mechanism, the others are thrown out of adjustment, and also because several cooperatv electrical contacts, as necessitated in other ing workmen are required to make the necessary adjustments, while if arranged as in my system, each stop mechanism at its corresponding station, no cable is placed between the elevator and the stop mechanism, thereby eliminating all difliculties due to cable stretch, and also each stop mechanism being independent may be adjusted'without influencing stop mechanisms for other stations.

Sixth :An independent direction control device is located at each station, operat ing therefor. This device controls the direction of rotation of the hoisting motor and attached cable drum; upon the elevator moving downward past a station the device is automatically set, so that should said elevator be called to said station before having again moved past same, the direction of rotation of the hoisting motor will be such as to raise the elevator, and the operation will be the exact opposite if the elevator is called to a floor below its location.

In other systems the direction control device has been incorporated either as an attachment or as an integral part of the hoist ing machine, therebynecessitating complicated timing mechanism adapted to synchronize the movement of the direction control device with that of the elevator as it passes the several stations. The independent direction control device, located at each station and operated by the elevator in passing, eliminates said timing mechanism.

Maintenance. Seventh The elimination of all sliding systems, and the substitution therefor of th knife switch variety of electrical con tacts, as used in my system, removes all the difiiculties resulting from glazed contact strips which cause excessive sparking or grease and dirt :coated strips which frequently proves an annoying insulation.

Eighth :The elimination of the complicated collectively grouped stop devices and direction control devices, as used in other systems and usually mounted upon, or in conjunction with, the hoisting machine, and the substitution therefor of independent station of its location,

stop and direction control devices at each station to be operated by the elevator in passing, removes this delicate electrical apparatus from the confines of damp and dirty basements wherein such machinery is usually located adjacent the bottom of the elevator shaft,-and places the same in dry and clean locations within the elevator shaft at each station.

Ninth :By the use, in my system, of an independent stop device located at each station, I am enabled to effect repairs involving any station without shutting down the system or in any way affecting other stations.

This is impossible in systems using the collectively arranged stop devices.

The operation of my system may be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicating like parts throughout the several views, in which Figure 1, is a diagram ofmy system, showing the upper and lower stations and one intermediate station.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the box containing the combined operation and stop mechanism, located at each station. 4

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through said box as seen from within the elevator shaft, and showing in detail the operation and stop mechanis Fig. 4 is aside elevation of Fig; 3, the box being shown'in section.

Figs. 3 and 4 present a slight modificationof the mechanism as shown in Fig. 1, whereby the closing of the door operates to release the control magnet armature 9, as hereinafter explained.

In the diagram Fig. 1, the car is designated as 1, the hoisting engine as 2, the main switch as 3, the magnets operating said switch as 4, the power circuit leads as 5, and the signal or operating circuit leads as 6.

The stop device located at each station comprises mechanism for first starting the elevator from a push button 7 corresponding to the station at which said push button is located; second cutting out of the circuit all push buttons at each station thereby rendering further-control of the elevator impossible; and operating a signal announcing that the elevator has started; third, breaking the main switch in the power circuit upon the arrival of the elevator at the station, thus stopping the elevator; fourth, en-

ergizing all push buttons upon the control- Y ling circuit except that corresponding to the designated 7.

The operation of this stop device is as follows Upon operating push button 7 to call the elevator to the corresponding station,

I except button 13, which is a master button controlling the elevator at all times as hereinafter described. v

The establishment of contact 11 completes a circuit including one of the main switch magnets 4:, (the choice of magnet 4 being determined by the direction of motion of the elevator as hereinafter explained), which thus is energized and holds the main switch in operative position thus allowing the elevator to move independently of the push button.

The establishment of contact 12 operates the signal 14:, which continues to operate until the circuit is broken by the opening and closing of the door as hereinafter explained.

Upo-n the arrival of the elevator at the station a cam 15 upon the elevator contacts with a cam wheel 16 upon an arm 17, which it thus causes to'rotate upon a fixed pivot 18.

By said motion of arm 17 contact 19 is broken and contact 20 is established.

The breaking of contact 19 cuts the control circuit in which main switch magnets 4 are included, thus denergizing said magnetsand releasing the main power switch, which thus causes the elevator to come to rest at the station.

The establishment of contact 20 closes one ap in a circuit which includes all foreign uttons at the station and the main switch magnets 4:, the circuit however still remaining open by reason of the previous breaking of contact 10. V

Said motion of arm 17 operates a latch mechanism adapted to hold armature 9 in engagement with contacts 11 and 12 after,

magnet 8 has been denergized by reason of the breaking of contact 19.

Said 4 latch mechanism consists in a reciprocating pin 22 pivotally attached to a bell crank 23, said bell crank being operated from lever 17 by means of a latch bar 24 pivotally connected to lever 17 and operating as a latch upon one arm of bell crank 23.

' By means of this mechanism when arm 17 is rotated, pin 22 is raised behind one arm of armature 9 in such a position as to hold contacts 11 and 12 closed, as shown at A.

The elevator isnow at rest at the station, and the door may be opened, but the elevator cannot be interfered with. or operated from any source (except the master button 13) because all push buttons are dead owing to the previous reaking of contact 10.

The door 21 now to be opened by erator who has received the elevator.

The subsequent closing of the door .operates upon the previously described latch the option throughout the entire system.

mechanism to release the same allowing armature 9 to return to its initial position and thus to break contacts 11 and 12 and reestablish contact 10. I

To accomplish thisresult by the closing. of door 21, I provide thereon a ratchet latch 25 adapted to engage with lever 26 when door is closed but'to pass same when door is opened. I When the door is closed the latch 25 engages lever 26 causing same to rotate about its pivotal mounting 27.

The rotary mot on of lever 26 is communicated. as a reciprocating motion to bar 28 by means of a. bell crank 29 and a link .30.

Bar 28 is located directly below latch bar and contacting with same causes the release of bell crank 23 and pin 22, which thus drops down out of contact with the arm of armature 9, releasing same.

In the modified form, shown in Figs. 3 and 4 a lever 26 is mounted upon a shaft 27 in such a position as will adapt said lever to co-act with catch 25 upon the door.

Upon shaft 27 is mounted a lever 27 adapted to coact with latch 24 to operate same as previously described.

Said latch 2 1 coacts with levers 23* and 23 each mounted upon shaft 23, to control and operate armature latch pin 22, as previously explained.

The effects of breaking contact 11 by thus closing the door is mil, because said contact closing the door is to reestablish the push button circuit in its initial operating condi- The operator now despatches the elevator to some selected station by pushing the button corresponding thereto, which operates the stop mechanism at the selected station, and causes a repetition, at the selected station of the cycle of events just described.

As the despatched elevator leaves the station cam 15 thereon leaves cam wheel 16 upon arm 17 and allows said arm 17 to assume its initial position, thus breaking contact 20 and reestablishing contact 19.

The breaking of contact 20 consequent to the return movement of arm 17- places. all foreign push buttons at the station upon a circuit which will be dead when the general push button circuit has been reestablished throughout the system.

. quent 'to the return movement of arm 17 places the local button'corresponding to the station upon a circuit that will be alive when the general push button circuit has been reestablished throughout the system.

The net result of the return movement of arm 17, is then, to place the push buttons at the station which the elevator is leaving in such a condition, or upon such circuits, that the local button corresponding to the station is the only one which can control the elevator, and the control of the elevator by this button is only possible after contact 10 has been broken and reestablished at the station to which the elevator was despatched. L

To determine the direction of movement of the elevator each station intermediate the upper and lower stations has installed thereat a direction control device, which, when the elevator has been called to a station, directs the movement of the elevator toward that station whether the elevator be above or below said station.

Said direction control device is operated by the elevator in passing the station, as when the elevator passes downward the direction control device is set so that should the elevator be called to the station its movement will be upward, and as the elevator passes upward the direction control device is set so that should the elevator be called to the station its movement will be downward.

Said direction control device is located in the elevator shaft adjacent the previously described stop device, and consists of a double armed lever 31, pivotally mounted and adapted to contact with and be operated by a roller 32 upon the elevator.

As the elevator moves upward said lever 31 is left in the positon shown in Fig. 1, with contact 34 broken and contact 33 established, which places in the control circuit of the stationthe proper one of magnets 4 to operate the main power switch in a lowering direction should the elevator be called to this station.

As the elevator moves downward lever 31 I is reversed in position, thus breaking contact 33 and establishing contact 34 which places in the control circuit of the stations the' proper one of magnets 4 to operate the main power switch in a hoisting direction should the elevator be called to the station.

The entire operation, control and direction control devices for any station are, as previously described, located at the station, and are jointly contained within a box or frame 35 adapted to be mounted between studdings of the Wall of the elevator shaft as shown in Fig. 2, with members 16 and 31 protruding into the elevator shaft, and door 36 being opened from within the building.

To effect a repair upon the apparatus contained by box 35, the electric circuit wires are disconnectedfrom their respective contacts within the box, and the wires connected to the two terminals of contact 10 are connected as shown at 10 in Fig. 3, thus shunting the main control circuit around the apparatus contained within the box, and allowing the removal of said box and the apparatus contained therein without afiecting the operating of the other stations.

A complete cycle of operations and electrio circuits employed when push button 7 for example, is operated, is asfollows: Current passes from the main power unit 6 through wire a", contact 10, wire a contact 10 wire a contact 10 wire B, wire H button 7 wire J wire C wire D, contact 19, wire K, magnet coil 8, wire L, contacts 33, wire M, wire E, direction magnet coil 4 (which operates motor switch 3 to start the motor) wire N, to power unit 66.

Having passed through coil 8 and energized magnet 8, arm 9 is attracted thereto, thus breaking the circuit at contacts 10 to deaden wire B and render all push buttons (except master push button 13) inoperative,

and making connection between contacts 11 to keep the car in motion, and between contacts 12 to display the signal.

. This establishes the running circuit which is as follows: from main power unit 6 through wire a, contact 10', wire of, contact 11, wire P, wire C wire D, contact 19, wire K, magnet coil 8, wire L, contacts 33, wire M, wire E, direction magnet coil 4, wire N, to power unit 6.

Coincident with the establishment of the above described running circuit, the above mentioned connection between contacts 12 to display the signal completes the circuit as follows: from main power unit 6 through wire a, contact 10, wire a contact 12, wire 9, signal 14, wire R, wire S to the main power unit 6. i

When the car arrives at the desired station, cam 15 will operate arm 17, thereby breaking contact 19 to deaden the running circuit, thus causing the car to stop at the desired point, also connecting contacts 20V to render push button T operative when the despatching system is energized, and operating through rod 24 and bell crank 23 will insert pin 22 behind arm 9 so as to keep contacts 11 and 12 closed and contact 10 open.

By keeping contacts 11 closed the signal is held in operation, and by keeping contact 10 openall push buttons except the master push button 13 are dead.

As the door is closed, catch 25 operates lever 26, link 30, bell crank 29, thus causing bar 28 to raise latch 24, thereby allowing bar 22 to drop and arm 9 to resume its initial position, thus bringing contacts 10 together to energize the push buttons for another may be applied'to many forms or types of elevators, and I wish to include in this application for Letters Patent all substitutes and mechanical equivalents that may fairly be considered to come within the scope and purview of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus disclosed my invention so that others skilled in the art may be enabled to construct and use same, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is;- l

1. In an electric elevator system, compris ing 'a main switch magnetically operated, electric circuits controlling said switch, push buttons in said circuits, a plurality of stations, and an elevator car; means whereby should a plurality of said push buttons be operated simultaneously to despatch said elevator car to separate stations, the circuits set up by one of said simultaneously operated push buttons will operate and control said elevator car, and the circuits including the other simultaneously operated push buttons will remain dead. v

2. In an electric elevator system comprising a main switch magnetically operated, electric circuits controlling said switch,

ush buttons in said electric circuits, a plurality of stations and an elevator car; means whereby the station from which said elevator car is being operated, shall always be at one end of the travel of said elevator car,

said means comprising a switch arm adapted to be operated from said elevator car by the arrival or departure of same from the station, a duality of electrical contacts operated by said arm, one of said contacts being in circuit with that one of said push buttons corresponding to, the station of its location, and the other of said electrical contacts being in circuit with the foreign push buttons.

3. In an electric elevator system com rising a main switch magnetically operated, electric circuits controlling said switch, push buttons in said electric circuits, an electric car, a plurality of stations, a door at each of said stations, and an operating magnet at each of said stations; means for maintaining all said circuits broken after said elevator car has arrived at that one of said stations to which it has been despatched, until said door at ,the station has been opened and subsequently closed; said means comprising a latch adapted to engage the armature of said operating magnet at the station whereat said elevator car has stopped, a catch upon the door of said station, and mechanism connecting said latch and said catch, whereby saidlatch is operated by the closing of said door and thereby said armature is released.

4:. In an electric elevator system comprising-"a main switch magnetically operated, circuits controlling said switch, push buttons in said circuits, a plurality of stations,

and an elevator car, means whereby should a plurality of said push buttons be operated simultaneously to despatch said elevator car to separate stations, the circuit set up by one of said simultaneously operated push buttons will operate and control said elevator car and the circuit including the other simultaneously operated push button will remain dead; said means comprising a main controlling circuit connected with said main switch and upon which circuit are located push buttons corresponding to the stations at which they are located, a plurality of magnetically operatedcontrol switches one located at each of said stations, and each I adapted to break said main controlling circuit, thus. enabling one of said control switches to control the circuit to the other control switches.

5. In. an electric elevator system comprising a main switch magnetically operated,

electric circuits controlling said switch, a plurality of stations, and an elevator can; a plurality of combined operation and stop devices, one located at each of said stations and adapted to despatch said elevator car toward one of said stations and to stop said.

buttons in saidcircuits, an elevator car, a

plurality of stations, and a door at each of said stations; a stop mechanism having electrical contacts thereon, a magnetically operated control switch adapted to simultaneously set said stop mechanism and to break said electric circuits, and to establish a running circuit including said contacts upon said sto mechanism, means whereby the station from which the elevator car is bein operated shall always be at one end 0% the travel of said elevator car, means operated by said elevator car to cause same to travel always toward the box containing the control mechanism at the station to which said elevator car is being despatched and means,

whereby should a plurality of said push buttons be operated simultaneously to despatch said elevator car to separate stations one of the circuits set up by said simultaneously 0p erated push buttons will operate and control said elevator car and the circuit containing the other simultaneously operated push buttons will remain dead.

7; In an electric elevator system comprising a main switch magnetically operated, electric circuits controlling said switch, push buttons upon said electric circuits, an elevator car, a plurality of stations and a door at each of said stations; a switch arm adapted to be operated from said elevator car upon the arrival or departure of same from a station, a duality of electrical contacts operated by said switch arm, one of said contacts being in circuit with that one of said push buttons corresponding to the station of its location, and the other of said electrical contacts being in circuit with the foreign push buttons, a control magnet located at each of said stations, a latch adapted to en gage the armature of said control magnet at the station whereat said elevator car has stopped, a catch upon the door of said station, mechanism connecting said latch and said catch whereby said latch is operated by the closing of said door and thereby said armature is released, a reversing switch located at each of said stations, a member upon said elevator car adapted to contact with and to operate said reversing switch as said elevator car passes same, a main controlling circuit connected with said main switch and upon which circuit are located push buttons corresponding to the stations at which they are located, a control switch located at each of said stations and operated by said control magnets, each of said control switches being adapted to break said main control circuit, and an electric circuit adapted to enable one of said control switches to control the circuit to the other control switches.

8. In an electric elevator system comprising a main switch magneticallv operated, electric circuits controlling said switch, push buttons in said electric circuits, an elevator car, a plurality of stations, and a door at each of said stations; means whereby the station from which said elevator car is being operated shall always be at one end of the' travel of said elevator car, in combination with means for maintaining all said electric circuits broken after said elevator car has arrived at that one of said stations to which it has been despatched until said door at the station has been opened and subsequently closed.

9. In an electric elevator system comprising a main switch magnetically operated, electric circuits controlling said switch, push buttons in said electric circuits, an elevator car, a plurality of stations, and a door at each of said stations; means whereby the station from which said elevator car is being 0perated shall always be at one end of the travel of said elevator car, in combination with means operated from said elevator car to cause same to travel always toward the station to which said elevator car is being despatched.

. 10. In an electric elevator system comprising a main switch magnetically operated, electric circuits controlling said switch, push buttons in said electric circuits, an electric car, a plurality of stations, control mechanism at each of said stations, and a door at each of said stations; means for'maintaining all said electric circuits broken after said elevator car has arrived. at that one of said stations to which it has been despatched until said door at the station has been opened and subsequently closed, means operated from said elevator car to .cause same to travel always toward the control mechanism at the station to which said elevator car is being despatched, and means whereby should a plurality of said push buttons be operated simultaneously to despatch said elevator car to separate stations one of the circuits set up by said simultaneously operated push buttons will operate and control the elevator car and the circuits including the other simultaneously operated push buttons will remain dead.

v 11. In an electric elevator system comprising a main switch magnetically operated, electric circuits controlling said switch, push buttons in said electric circuits, an elevator car, and a plurality of stations, and control mechanism at each of said stations; means operated from said elevator car to cause same to travel always toward the control mechanism at the station to which said elevator car is being despatched, in combination with means whereby should a plurality of said push buttons be operated simultaneously to despatch said elevator car to separate stations, one of the circuits set up by said simull-aneously operated push buttons will operate and control said elevator car and the circuits including the other simultaneously operated push buttons will remain dea 12. In an electric elevator system comprising a main switch magnetically operated,

. electric circuits controlling said switch, push buttons in said electric circuits, an'elevator car, and a plurality of stations and control mechanism at each of'said stations; means operated from said elevator car to cause same to travel always toward the control mechanism at the station to which it is being despatched, in combination with a plurality of combined operation and stop devices, each located at one of said stations and adapted to despatch said elevator car toward one of said stations and to stop said car at said station. a

13; In an electric elevator system comprising an elevator car running within a shaft, and a plurality of stations; a combined operation and stop device, a-direction control device, a box adapted to contain said operation and stop device and said direction control device, said box being adapted to be mounted in the wall surrounding said elevator shaft, a main control electric circuit con- .one of said stations and adapted to despatch said elevator car toward one of said stations and to stop sald car at said station, a box adapted to contain said operation and stop device and means to short clrcuit said operation and stop device for the purpose of removing same without afiecting similar operation and stop devices located at other stations.

In testimony whereof I claim the foregoing as my own I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CARL S. BROWN.

Witnesses:

L. J. RoBINsoN, C. F. BLAKE. 

